ENID, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Softball opened a three game series against Harding on Friday evening as Northwestern fell 4-2 to the Bisons. The Rangers comeback bid in the seventh inning fell short after trailing 4-0 entering the inning scoring two but Harding escaped with the win.

Northwestern is now 12-15 overall with a 4-11 conference record following Friday's game against Harding.

Tatum Winters, Rachel Sherwood, and Rosemary Rivera each lead the team with two hits each as Sherwood and Hannah Howell each had an RBI. Hannah Howell threw all seven innings striking out two.

Howell threw a perfect first inning, before the Rangers picked up a hit in the bottom of the first on a single by Tatum Winters but were unable to score as it remained 0-0.

Harding was able to score one in the second inning after back to back walks in the second inning to start the frame led to the Bisons coming around to score on a Ranger error for the 1-0 lead. Rangers had a base runner in the second but did not score trailing 1-0 after two.

The third inning Harding had two base runners after an error and a walk but Northwestern defense had Laney Anderson throw a runner out trying to steal. This helped the Rangers get out of the inning with no damage done.

Howell worked around a jam in the fourth inning after Harding had two hits which were two singles pushing a runner to third but kept the game 1-0 following a ground out. 

The Bisons extended their lead in the sixth inning as a single and a stolen base setup a double down the left field line scoring Lee and Curry and giving Harding the 3-0 lead in the sixth inning.

Northwestern looked to answer as Rivera singled and Pack walked but a strikeout to end the inning kept Harding in front 3-0.

Harding added one more on a solo home run in the inning by Cabana for the 4-0 lead. This was before the Rangers offense struck in the home half of the inning. Macy Spearman led the inning off with a single followed by a Tatum Winters single setting up first and third.

Rachel Sherwood pushed across the game's first run with an RBI single scoring Spearman and cutting the Ranger deficit to 4-1. Howell followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Winters. Rosemary Rivera then singled as the Rangers had the tying run on base. However Harding got a line out and a pop out to close out the victory over Northwestern 4-2.

Harding and Northwestern will close out the three game set on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader. The games will start with first pitch scheduled for Noon with the second game to follow 30 minutes after the final out of game one.
 

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